Don't Blink (also known as Last Stop) is a 2014 American psychological horror film written and directed by Travis Oates. The film stars Mena Suvari, Brian Austin Green, Joanne Kelly, and Zack Ward, who also served as producer.
| Don't Blink | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Film poster | |
| Directed by | Travis Oates |
| Written by | Travis Oates |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Jayson Crothers |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Mike Verta |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Vertical Entertainment |
Release date |
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Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The plot follows a group of 10 friends who visit a remote resort, only to discover that the place is deserted. As they attempt to uncover the mystery behind the missing guests, they are horrified to find that they too begin to disappear one by one.
Don't Blink was released on September 18, 2014, in a limited release.
Plot
editA group of ten friends—Jack, his girlfriend Tracy, her brother Lucas, Alex, his friend Sam, and Sam's girlfriend Charlotte, among others—arrive at a remote, isolated resort. After a long journey, they discover the resort completely deserted, with signs of sudden abandonment, such as half-eaten food and unpacked luggage. They soon realize their phones don't work, the gas pumps are locked, and the strange occurrences start to unsettle the group.
As they explore the area to search for answers, Tracy suddenly disappears, prompting increasing panic. Lucas and Noah follow, disappearing in mysterious circumstances as well. When tensions rise, Sam steals a gun from Alex and accidentally shoots him. In desperation, Sam drives away with Charlotte, but both vanish from the car.
Back at the resort, Jack and Ella grow closer, but Ella too disappears after an intimate moment. Meanwhile, Alex grows more paranoid and violent, torturing Noah in a misguided attempt to gain answers. Alex eventually kills himself, convinced that he can at least leave behind proof of his existence. However, even his body vanishes.
As Jack and Claire wait for the authorities, the situation grows more dire. Claire is left alone when Jack disappears after a brief moment of microsleep. She is briefly reassured when emergency responders arrive, but she soon finds herself utterly alone once again, with no sign of the emergency workers, leaving her isolated in the resort.
Cast
edit- Mena Suvari as Tracy
- Brian Austin Green as Jack
- Joanne Kelly as Claire
- Zack Ward as Alex
- Fiona Gubelmann as Ella
- David de Lautour as Noah
- Leif Gantvoort as Sam
- Emelie O'Hara as Amelia
- Curtiss Frisle as Lucas
- Samantha Jacober as Charlotte
- Robert Picardo as Man in Black
Production
editFilming for Don't Blink took place in Ruidoso, New Mexico, from January 9 to February 1, 2010.[1][2] Director Travis Oates, a fan of Alfred Hitchcock, incorporated homages to Hitchcock's style throughout the film. Oates aimed to create a horror film with a unique twist—there is no traditional villain, no blood, and no on-screen deaths.[3] The role of Alex was specifically written for Zack Ward, a close friend of Oates. The director intentionally left the film's ending ambiguous, believing that the lack of explicit answers would divide audiences but ultimately enhance the fear factor.[4] During production, unplanned snowfall occurred and was cleverly incorporated into the film's script.[5]
Release
editDon't Blink was given a limited release by Vertical Entertainment on September 18, 2014.[6]
Reception
editMark L. Miller of Ain't It Cool News praised Don't Blink for its unique approach, stating that "Some may be frustrated with the lack of answers here, but if you’re willing to look a little outside of the box in terms of movie monsters, this one is going to be a pleaser."[7] Sarah Boslaugh of Playback noted that while Don't Blink isn't a "cinematic masterpiece," it serves as an "OK horror movie perfect for home viewing with a group of friends."[8] Gordon Sullivan of DVD Verdict added that the film is "an okay little supernatural mystery," though it may leave some viewers wanting more from its plot.[9]
Home media
editDon't Blink was released on DVD by Vertical Entertainment on October 14, 2014. The company later re-released the film on August 28, 2019[10]
References
edit- ^ Kalvelage, Jim (2010-01-07). "Lights, camera..." Ruidoso News. Retrieved 2015-09-15.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Curran, Mike (2010-01-19). "Alto film project proceeds smoothly". Ruidoso News. Retrieved 2015-09-15.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Wickham, Terry (2015-02-10). "Travis Oates on directing Don't Blink". Manta Ray Pictures. Retrieved 2015-09-15.
- ^ Haberfelner, Mike. "An Interview with Travis Oates, Writer and Director of Don't Blink". (re)Search My Trash. Retrieved 2015-09-15.
- ^ Haberfelner, Mike. "An Interview with Zack Ward, Star and Producer of Don't Blink". (re)Search My Trash. Retrieved 2015-09-15.
- ^ Moore, Debi (2014-09-17). "Don't Blink or You'll Miss this New Release". Dread Central. Retrieved 2015-09-14.
- ^ Miller, Mark L. (2014-12-12). "DON'T BLINK (2014)". Ain't It Cool News. Retrieved 2015-09-14.
- ^ Boslaugh, Sarah (2014-10-18). "Don't Blink (Vertical Entertainment, NR)". Playback. Archived from the original on 2015-09-18. Retrieved 2015-09-14.
- ^ Sullivan, Gordon (2014-10-31). "Don't Blink". DVD Verdict. Retrieved 2015-09-14.
- ^ "Don't Blink (2014) - Travis Oates". Allmovie.com. Allmovie. Retrieved 21 September 2019.